Connections Podcast

Ecologist Suzanne Simard wants to change the way you think about trees. Simard has dedicated her life to studying how trees communicate. Her research details how they perceive one another, how they collaborate with their neighbors, even how they remember the past. Her work in forests has informed the logging industry, and she hopes it can influence federal policy. Simard will be a guest of the Western New York Land Conservancy next week , but first, she joins us on Connections to discuss her new

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka shocked the sports world when she announced last week that she was withdrawing from the French Open. Osaka had skipped media obligations leading into the tournament, revealing that she was struggling with her mental health. The move was applauded by some athletes and advocates, who praised Osaka for putting athletes' mental health into the global spotlight. But critics and some sports journalists say that talking to the press is part of an elite athlete's job, and

Eleven women have told investigators that County Legislator Ernest Flagler-Mitchell sent them inappropriate, sexual, and sometimes graphic messages. Lakaya Sinclair is the only one of those accusers to come forward publicly. She has asked for Monroe County to pass stronger ethics legislation and remove Flagler-Mitchell from his office. For his part, Flagler-Mitchell has not denied sending such messages, but he says it was never inappropriate or predatory. For the first time, we talk to Lakaya

We're joined by two more candidates for Rochester City School Board. It's our fourth and final discussion with candidates in this race prior to the primary on June 22. Incumbent and current board vice president Cynthia Elliott and educator and activist Clianda Florence-Yarde join us to discuss their platforms and priorities for the district. Our guests: Cynthia Elliott Clianda Florence-Yarde

Have you been buying more house plants or doing more gardening during the pandemic? WXXI’s Veronica Volk reports that Rochester’s rare plant market is booming, and NPR reports that gardens have gained popularity as people have been working from home and want to grow their own food. This hour, we talk about the popularity of houseplants, the rise in gardening, and what the experts say you need to know about growing plants and food. Our guests: Veronica Volk , reporter/producer for WXXI Benjamin

We talk with two more candidates for Rochester City School Board. Nine candidates are vying for three open seats on the board. Our goal is to talk to all of the candidates before the primary on June 22. This hour, we hear from Joshua Bauroth and Tatiana Welch about their platforms and priorities for the district. Our guests: Joshua Bauroth Tatiana Welch

We're joined by the great Michael Lasser, longtime host of Fascinatin’ Rhythm on WXXI Radio . Lasser has been at the helm of the nationally syndicated show for more than 40 years. His work as earned him a loyal audience and a coveted George Foster Peabody Award. As reported by WXXI's Jeff Spevak, "jurors said his program was a vivid example of what a listener described as 'radio essays with songs used as illustrations.'” Lasser has decided to retire, with June 26 being the final broadcast of his

Late last week, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker released a letter he wrote to the CDC about masking guidance for the state. In that letter, he said the state will try to align its guidance for school and summer camps, meaning children and staff who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks indoors or outdoors. The changes were set to begin today. But now, state officials say no plans will be adjusted until the CDC has an opportunity to respond to the letter. Meanwhile,

What do bees have to do with microplastics? We're joined by experts who explain how honeybees are living probes of how microplastics are scattered around the world. Our guests: Matt Kelly , independent journalist, and creator and editor of The Bee Report Christy Tyler , associate professor in the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences in the College of Science of RIT Greg Madejski , founder and CEO of Parverio

WXXI reporter James Brown has done a deep dive on the future of Rochester's Inner Loop. City officials hope President Biden's infrastructure plan could help do away with what's left of it. A goal of that plan is to help reconnect neighborhoods cut off by historic investments and improve racial equity and access to services. Community members living in areas where development would occur say they support plans to relink neighborhoods, but they worry that the city is moving too quickly or that